JP3431217B2 - Bathroom Dryer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathroom dryer, and more particularly to a ventilation device for sucking in air in the bathroom and for ventilating the sucked air to the bathroom, and air for the bathroom outside the bathroom. Ventilation means for exhausting air to
The present invention relates to a bathroom dryer provided with heating means for heating the ventilation air ventilated in the bathroom by the circulation ventilation means and control means for controlling the operations of the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a bathroom dryer ventilates warm air into the bathroom and ventilates humid air from the bathroom to the outside.
For example, it is for drying laundry such as clothes hung in a bathroom. Conventionally, the control unit is configured to constantly control the ventilation amounts of the circulation ventilation unit and the exhaust ventilation unit to predetermined constant ventilation amounts regardless of the progress of the drying process of the laundry. Moreover, in order to shorten the time required for the drying work, the constant air flow rate is set to be relatively large.

[0003]

By the way, since the laundry contains a large amount of water in the initial stage of the drying process, the ventilation of the circulation ventilation means is increased to apply a large amount of warm air to the laundry. At the same time, by increasing the ventilation volume of the exhaust ventilation means and discharging a large amount of steam generated outside the bathroom,
Drying can be effectively promoted. In the middle of the drying process (for example, the laundry is dried by about 25 to 30%), the surface of the laundry is dried and the inside thereof is not dried at all. Since warm air passes through the surface of the laundry but does not pass through the inside thereof, at this time, even if the amount of ventilation of the circulation ventilation means is increased and a large amount of warm air is applied to the laundry, the effect of promoting drying is not increased. rare. In the latter half of the drying process (for example, the laundry is about 85 to 90% dry), the inside of the laundry with a thick cloth is not dried and is the most difficult to dry, and almost no water vapor is generated. ing.
Therefore, at this time, even if the ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation means is increased to discharge a large amount of air in the bathroom out of the bathroom, there is almost no effect of promoting the drying.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional bathroom dryer, the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means is unnecessarily controlled to a large extent even when the effect of promoting the drying of the laundry is not obtained. As a result, there is a problem in that the power consumption of the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means increases, and consequently the running cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to increase the time required for the drying operation.
And avoid running costs.
However, the drying operation is automatically stopped when the drying is completed.
It is to provide a bathroom dryer that can be used.

[0006]

A first characteristic configuration of a bathroom dryer according to the present invention is provided with humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity of the bathroom and temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the bathroom. The operation means is given to the control means.
And, based on the detection information of the humidity detecting means, when the detected humidity is higher than the first set humidity, the ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation means is increased, and the detected humidity is equal to or lower than the first set humidity. In this case, the ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation unit is reduced, and when the first set time elapses after the detected humidity becomes the second set humidity lower than the first set humidity or less, the circulation draft Means and the exhaust ventilation means are stopped, and after the operation start command is given, the detected humidity
When the first setting is made after the temperature falls below the second set humidity
Until the time elapses , based on the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means, when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means is large, and the detected temperature is When the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means is controlled to be small.

A second aspect of this disclosure, the control means, said <br/> from given the operation start command until the second set time elapses maintain ventilation of the circulation ventilation unit to the large And the time from the start of the drying process to the end of the initial stage of the drying process in which the laundry to be dried contains a large amount of water is set as the second set time. There is a point.

[0008]

[0009]

The operation of the first characteristic structure is as follows. When the operation start command is given , the control means increases the ventilation volume of the exhaust ventilation means based on the detection information of the humidity detection means when the detected humidity is higher than the first set humidity,
Further, when the detected humidity is less than or equal to the first set humidity, the ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation unit is reduced, and after the detected humidity is less than or equal to the second set humidity lower than the first set humidity, the first set time After the passage of time, the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means are stopped, and after the operation start command is given,
2 Until the first set time elapses after the humidity falls below the set humidity
During the period, when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature based on the detected temperature of the temperature detection means, the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means is increased, and when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the circulation The ventilation volume of the ventilation means is controlled to be small. Since the bathroom humidity decreases as the drying process progresses, it can be estimated from the bathroom humidity that the drying process has reached the latter stage and that the drying process has ended. Is set to the corresponding bathroom humidity when the drying process reaches the latter half, and the second set humidity is set to the corresponding bathroom humidity when the drying process is completed. Further, since the bathroom temperature rises as the drying process progresses, it is possible to estimate that the drying process has reached the middle stage by the temperature of the bathroom, and the set temperature is set when the drying process reaches the middle stage. Set to the corresponding bathroom temperature. Then,
The ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation means is controlled to be large while the drying process is not reaching the latter period, and is controlled to be small in the latter period of the drying process, and the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation device is controlled to be early in the drying process. It is controlled to be large and is controlled to be small after the middle of the drying process, and when the second set time has elapsed after the detected humidity reached the humidity corresponding to the end of the drying process, the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means. Can be stopped. In other words, in the early stage of the drying process, a large amount of warm air is applied to the laundry due to the large ventilation volume of the exhaust ventilation means, and a large amount of steam is generated outside the bathroom due to the large ventilation volume of the circulation ventilation means. Efficiently discharged, the drying is effectively promoted, and the time required for the drying can be shortened. Also, in the middle of the drying process, due to the large ventilation volume of the exhaust ventilation means, water vapor is generated. Since it is efficiently discharged out of the bathroom, the drying is effectively promoted and the time required for the drying can be shortened.
Also, even if the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means is large, the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means is reduced and the amount of water vapor generated is reduced from the middle of the drying process after the middle stage of the drying process in which there is no effect on the promotion of drying. The power consumption of the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means is reduced by reducing the ventilation volume of the exhaust ventilation means in the latter stage of the drying process, which does not have the effect of promoting the drying even if the ventilation volume of the ventilation ventilation means is large. Can be reduced. Furthermore, by waiting for the first set time to elapse after the detected humidity reaches the humidity corresponding to the end of the drying process, the circulation ventilation means and the exhaust ventilation means are stopped, so that the temperature and humidity depending on the season may be changed. The ventilation ventilation means and the ventilation ventilation means for circulation are automatically operated to prevent unnecessary consumption of energy for drying while eliminating variations in the dry state caused by changes and ensuring reliable drying. Can be stopped.

The operation of the second characteristic structure is as follows. The control means is the second device after the operation start command is given.
Until the set time elapses, the temperature detected by the temperature detection means
Regardless of the degree, the ventilation volume of the ventilation means for circulation should be maintained at the above level.
To have. Then, as the second set time, the drying process is
Since the start, the laundry to be dried contains a large amount of water
Time until the end of the initial drying process
The space is set. In other words, immediately after finishing the drying
When the next drying operation is started when the room temperature is high
In the short time until the second set time elapses,
Even if the bathroom temperature exceeds the second preset temperature,
Ventilation of circulation ventilation means until the second set time elapses
The amount is maintained at the above. Therefore, the drying operation is repeated
Even if it is performed, the second set time has elapsed at the beginning of the drying process.
Until a lot of warm air is applied to the laundry, it will dry
Is effectively promoted.

[0011]

[0012]

According to the first characteristic configuration, the drying is performed as a whole.
Avoid the long drying time and run
When the drying is completed while reducing the
Bathroom drying that makes it possible to automatically stop the drying work
Machine can be provided. Furthermore, the second
According to the characteristic configuration, even if the drying operation is repeated, the desired
You can now dry the street.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the bathroom dryer will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is an intake port 1a and an outlet port 1
It is a casing in which b and the exhaust port 1c are formed.
The intake port 1a is provided with a suction grill 2, and the outlet port 1b is provided.
Is equipped with a movable louver 3, and a taper joint 4 for connecting an exhaust duct (not shown) is connected to the exhaust port 1c.

Inside the casing 1, a circulating fan 5 for sucking the air in the bathroom from the air inlet 1a and ventilating the sucked air to the bathroom from the air outlet 1b, and an exhaust fan 6 for ventilating the air in the bathroom to the outside of the bathroom are provided. And a heat exchanger 7 for heating the ventilation air ventilated by the circulation fan 5 into the bathroom. In the heat exchanger 7, the heat exchange portion has a cylindrical body 8.
The cylindrical body 8 is arranged so that its lower opening faces the air outlet 1b.
The blowout port of the circulation fan 5, the suction port of the exhaust fan 6, and the upper opening of the cylindrical body 8 are connected to each other by a duct 9, and a part of the air sucked by the circulation fan 5 is sent to the exhaust fan 6. The heat is discharged to the outside of the bathroom by the heat exchanger 7 and the rest is supplied to the bathroom. Therefore, the circulation fan 5 functions as a circulation ventilation unit, the exhaust fan 6 functions as an exhaust ventilation unit, and the heat exchanger 7 functions as a heating unit.

A hot water circulation path 10 is connected to the heat exchanger 7 so that hot water is circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger 7 from a heat source unit (not shown) separately installed from the bathroom dryer, and the hot water circulation is performed. A thermal valve V is provided in the passage 10. Further, a temperature sensor St for detecting the temperature of the air in the bathroom sucked by the circulation fan 5 and a humidity sensor S for detecting the humidity of the air.
and h are arranged inside the casing 1. Therefore,
The temperature sensor St functions as a temperature detecting unit that detects the temperature of the bathroom, and the humidity sensor Sh functions as a humidity detecting unit that detects the humidity of the bathroom.

Reference numeral R in FIG. 1 is a remote controller for issuing a mode command for instructing one of the operation start command, operation stop command, drying mode, heating mode and ventilation mode. Although not shown, it is installed on the wall surface inside the bathroom so that the user can operate it conveniently. Further, C in FIG. 1 is a control device using a microcomputer, and this control device C is based on a command from the remote controller R, detection information of each of the temperature sensor St and the humidity sensor Sh,
Operation control of each of the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6, and
The opening / closing control of the thermal valve V is executed. The control device C is provided inside the casing 1 in a thermally insulated state. Tsuma
The controller C controls the circulation ventilation means 5 and the exhaust gas.
A control means for controlling the operation of the ventilation means 6 is configured.
It

Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1 is a hanging metal fitting for hanging the casing 1 on a ceiling portion (not shown) of a vehicle body having a bathroom therein. When suspending the casing 1 on the ceiling of the vehicle, although not shown, the intake port 1 of the casing 1 is different from the air supply / exhaust port formed on the ceiling of the bathroom.
Align a with the air outlet 1b and hang it.

Next, the control configuration of the bathroom dryer will be described. First, based on the control time charts shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the control operation of the control device C when the drying mode is commanded from the remote controller R will be described.
In addition, T1 in the figure indicates a first set temperature for switching the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5, and the first set temperature T1 is, specifically, the first set temperature of the bathroom corresponding to the middle of the drying process. The temperature is set to, for example, 40 ° C. T2 in the figure indicates a second set temperature for switching the thermal valve V from the closed state to the open state, and is set to 53 ° C, for example. T3 in the figure
Indicates a third set temperature for switching the thermal valve V from the open state to the closed state, which is set to 55 ° C, for example. H1 in the figure indicates the first set humidity for switching the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6, and the first set humidity H1 is specifically the humidity of the bathroom corresponding to the latter stage of the drying process, For example, it is set to 35% RH. Further, H2 in the figure indicates a second set humidity for detecting the end of the drying process, which is set to, for example, 20% RH. Also, in the following description,
To control the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 to be large means to drive the electric motor that rotationally drives the circulation fan 5 at a high rotation speed, and to control the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 to be small. Specifically, it is to drive the electric motor at a low rotation speed. Further, to control the air flow rate of the exhaust fan 6 to be large means, specifically, to drive the electric motor that rotationally drives the exhaust fan 6 at a high rotational speed,
To control the air flow rate of the exhaust fan 6 to be small means, specifically, to drive the electric motor at a low rotation speed.

A normal control operation will be described with reference to FIG. The controller C is given an operation start command.
And the detected humidity based on the detected humidity of the humidity sensor Sh.
When the degree is higher than the first set humidity H1, the exhaust fan 6 is turned on.
The air volume is increased, and the detected humidity is the first set humidity.
When it is H1 or less, reduce the ventilation volume of the exhaust fan 6, and
The second setting in which the detected humidity is lower than the first set humidity H1
The first set time t1 has elapsed since the humidity became below the constant humidity H2.
Then, the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 are stopped, and
After the operation start command is given, the detected humidity is set to the second setting.
The first set time t1 elapses after the humidity becomes below the constant humidity H2
Until then, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor St,
Circulate when the detected temperature is lower than the first set temperature T1.
The air flow of the fan 5 is large, and the detected temperature is the first setting.
When the temperature is equal to or higher than the constant temperature T1, the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 is controlled to be small
It is configured to control. That is, when the operation start command is given from the remote controller R in the dry mode,
The thermal valve V is opened, and each of the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 is operated with a large ventilation amount. Then, when the detected temperature of the temperature sensor St becomes equal to or higher than the first set temperature T1, the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 is switched to a small amount. Then, the humidity sensor Sh
When the detected humidity of is less than or equal to the first set humidity H1, the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6 is switched to a small amount. Then, the humidity sensor S
When the first set time t1 elapses after the detected humidity of h becomes equal to or lower than the second set humidity H2, the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 are stopped, and the thermal valve V is closed. Therefore, one drying operation is completed. The humidity sensor Sh
Waiting for the first set time t1 to elapse before the circulating fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 are stopped after the detected humidity becomes equal to or lower than the second set humidity H2 is due to a change in temperature and humidity depending on the season. The reason is that there are variations in the state, but this is eliminated to ensure reliable drying.

Next, the control operation at the time of abnormality will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, when the temperature of the bathroom is high immediately after the end of the previous drying operation, and the next drying operation is started, the temperature of the bathroom may become the first set temperature T1 or higher in a short time. In order to prevent the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 from being switched to a small amount in a short time as in such a case, as shown in FIG. 2, the second set time t2 has elapsed after the operation start command is given. Until the time elapses, even if the detected temperature becomes equal to or higher than the first set temperature T1, the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 is maintained large.

Also, for example, when the amount of laundry to be dried is small, the humidity in the bathroom may be lowered in a short time. In order to prevent the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6 from being switched to a small amount in a short time and the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 to be stopped in a short time as in this case, FIGS. Perform the control shown. As shown in FIG. 3, until the second set time t2 elapses after the operation start command is given, the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6 is increased even if the detected humidity becomes the first set humidity H1 or less. While maintaining the second set time t
After the elapse of 2, the circulating fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 are not stopped until the third set time t3 elapses, even if the detected humidity becomes the second set humidity H2 or less. As shown in FIG. 4, after the second set time t2 has elapsed and before the detected temperature becomes the first set temperature T1 or more and the detected humidity becomes the first set humidity H1 or less, the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan Each of the six ventilation amounts is switched to a small amount, and thereafter, until the third set time t3 elapses, the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 are not stopped even if the detected humidity becomes the second set humidity H2 or less.

Further, there is a case where the temperature of the bathroom does not rise above the first set temperature T1 as in the case where the operation is started while the door of the bathroom is open. In order to avoid such a situation that the circulation fan 5 is continuously operated for a long time in a state where the ventilation amount is large, the control shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is performed. As shown in FIG. 5, when the fourth set time t4 elapses after the operation start command is given, the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 is switched to a small amount even if the detected temperature is lower than the first set temperature T1. When the detected humidity is higher than the first set humidity H1 when the fourth set time t4 has elapsed, the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6 is maintained large. As shown in FIG. 6, after the operation start command is given, the fourth set time t
By the time 4 has passed, the detected humidity is equal to the first set humidity H1.
In the following cases, the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6 is switched to a small value, and even if the detected temperature is lower than the first set temperature T1, the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 is switched to a small value.

Further, there is a case where the humidity of the bathroom does not fall below the second set humidity H2, for example, when the operation is started while the lid of the bathtub is opened. In order to avoid the continuous operation of the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 for a long time as in such a case, as shown in FIG. 7, the fifth set time has elapsed after the operation start command is given. After t5, even if the detected humidity is higher than the second set humidity H2,
While stopping the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6,
The thermal valve V is closed. When the detected temperature reaches the third set temperature T3, the thermal valve V is switched from the open state to the closed state, and when the detected temperature reaches the second set temperature T2, the thermal valve V is opened from the closed state. Switch to the state to prevent the bathroom temperature from rising too high.

Next, the control operation when the ventilation mode is instructed will be described based on the control time chart shown in FIG. When the operation start command is given in the ventilation mode, the exhaust valve 6 is operated with a large air flow while the thermal valve V is closed and the circulation fan 5 is stopped. Subsequently, when the sixth set time t6 has elapsed, the ventilation amount of the exhaust fan 6 is switched to a small amount, and when the detected humidity reaches the second set humidity H2, the exhaust fan 6 is stopped and the detected humidity is the first When the set humidity reaches H1, control is continued to operate the exhaust fan 6 with a small amount of air flow. Then, when the operation stop command is given, the exhaust fan 6 is stopped.

Next, the control operation when the heating mode is instructed will be described based on the control time chart shown in FIG. When the operation start command is given in the heating mode, the thermal valve V is opened with the circulation fan 5 and the exhaust fan 6 stopped, and subsequently, when the seventh set time t7 elapses, the circulation fan 5 is ventilated. When the detected temperature reaches the third set temperature T3, the thermal valve V
To the closed state, the ventilation amount of the circulation fan 5 is switched to a small amount smaller than small, and when the detected temperature reaches the second set temperature T2, the thermal valve V is switched to the open state and the ventilation of the circulation fan 5 is changed. The control of switching the amount to small is continued. A timer that can freely set the duration of the heating operation is provided. When this timer times out, the thermal valve V is closed and the circulation fan 5 is stopped. Incidentally, the reason why the seventh set time t7 elapses before the circulation fan 5 is operated with a large amount of airflow is to prevent cool air from being blown out from the air outlet 1b.

[Other Embodiments] Next, other embodiments will be listed. In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor St and the humidity sensor S
Although the case where h is arranged inside the casing 1 has been illustrated, instead of this, the temperature sensor St and the humidity sensor S are replaced.
You may arrange h in the bathroom.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the heat exchanger 7 is applied has been illustrated as a specific configuration of the heating means, but various configurations other than this are applicable, for example, an electric heater can be applied.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structures of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bathroom dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control time chart in a drying mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control time chart in a drying mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control time chart in a drying mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a control time chart in a drying mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control time chart in a drying mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control time chart in a drying mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a control time chart of a ventilation mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a control time chart of a heating mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 Circulation ventilation means 6 Exhaust ventilation means 7 Heating means t1 First set time t2 Second set time C Control means H1 First set humidity H2 Second set humidity Sh Humidity detection means St Temperature detection means T1 Set temperature

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Circulating ventilation means (5) for sucking air in a bathroom and ventilating the sucked air into the bathroom.
An exhaust ventilation means (6) for ventilating the bathroom air to the outside of the bathroom; and a heating means (7) for heating the ventilation air ventilated to the bathroom by the circulation ventilation means (5).
And a control means (C) for controlling the operations of the circulation ventilation means (5) and the exhaust ventilation means (6), the humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity of the bathroom. (Sh) and temperature detecting means (St) for detecting the temperature of the bathroom are provided, and the control means (C) receives an operation start command,
Based on the detection information of the humidity detecting means (Sh), when the detected humidity is higher than the first set humidity (H1), the ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation means (6) is increased, and the detected humidity is When the humidity is equal to or lower than the first set humidity (H1), the ventilation amount of the exhaust ventilation unit (6) is reduced, and the detected humidity is lower than the first set humidity (H1). ) When the first set time (t1) elapses after the following, the circulation ventilation means (5) and the exhaust ventilation means (6) are stopped, and the operation start command is given.
After that, the detected humidity becomes equal to or lower than the second set humidity (H2).
Until the first set time (t1) elapses
During the interval, based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means (St), when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature (T1), the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means (5) is increased and the detection is performed. A bathroom dryer configured to control the ventilation amount of the circulation ventilation means (5) to be small when the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature (T1). Wherein the control means (C) is maintained ventilation amount of the circulating ventilation means to a second set time (t2) has elapsed since the operation start command is given (5) to the University The second set time (t2), from the start of the drying process to the end of the initial stage of the drying process in which the laundry to be dried contains a large amount of water. The bathroom dryer according to claim 1, wherein the time is set.